John Morgan, Carmarthenshire Militia and 23rd Regiment 1796-1852

Having been associated with St.Davids Church Carmarthen in the mid-1990s I have been following the attempts of a group of its Friends to record and preserve the monuments in its substantial cemetery. Their latest newsletter contained a reference to John Morgan (born Machynlleth 1775, died 1857) who served for no less than 56 years 92 days with the Royal Carmarthenshire Fusiliers Militia, and also with the 23rd Regiment during the final phase of the Peninsular campaign, earning the Military General Service Medal (1793-1814) with "Toulouse" clasp.

His story is related here: https://stdavidscemeterywales.org/se...rving-soldier/

It's an interesting tale, but I have the feeling that his record is surpassed by one William Hiseland, who first saw action at the battle of Edgehill 1642 during the English Civil War, and continued in the Army long after that conflict ended, including service during King William's Irish wars in the 1680s and Marlborough's Flanders campaigns in 1702-12. He was admitted as an in-pensioner at Chelsea Hospital in 1713 after nearly 80 years of service. He died 1723 aged 112! The Royal Hospital Chelsea museum has a splendid painting of him.

Clive